What is Eclectic Horseman Magazine?

Are you tired of horse publications that are full of ads but lack useful information? Are you seeking to improve your horsemanship skills? Deepen your understanding of horses? Are you looking for a publication that you can trust to give safe and effective techniques?

You’ve just found Eclectic Horseman, the bi-monthly magazine dedicated to educating horse owners of all skill levels and disciplines.

It’s fairly simple… We believe we can help equip you for your own horsemanship journey.

In the pages of Eclectic Horseman you will find some fundamental tenets of horsemanship that apply to all horses and riders.

All horses need to be gentle. They need to be able to encounter new environments and situations in a relaxed manner. They must be able to move in any direction at any speed in a way that is calm and controllable. They must be comfortable with their tack and what is being asked of them; they must not be troubled either by pain or lack of understanding. They must feel respected as the thinking, feeling, decision-making creature that they are.

All humans need to feel safe and relaxed when they are handling or riding their horses. They need to understand how their body moves and how their horse’s body moves so that they can be effective and reasonable when they ride. They need to know how to care for their horses so that they stay fit and healthy for many years. Helping horse owners to understand when and how to use what tack, and to become knowledgeable in selecting quality equipment, will lead to safety for both horse and rider.

Currently there is no mainstream media voice for the horse. The horse is a thinking, feeling, decision-making animal, and yet he is at the mercy of the human for all of his life. No one acts in a way that they know is wrong just to be wrong. Inappropriate or harmful behavior is committed by humans to horses because they do not know another way. If they knew a harmonious way to achieve their goals with their horses, they would follow that way. By presenting this deeper nature of the horse, Eclectic Horseman can change the way that people think about their horses and, more importantly, change the way they interact with them.

In Eclectic Horseman we present information from well-known clinicians and trainers including Buck Brannaman, Martin Black, Joe Wolter, Wendy Murdoch and Bryan Neubert. We also feature lesser-known clinicians, trainers and cowboys who get up and work with horses and students every day. Since the lesser-known clinicians, trainers and cowboys are not in the show ring, many readers may have never heard of them. Getting information from then can be more of a challenge, since they are not used to giving interviews or doing photo shoots. Yet these horse professionals have their finger on the pulse of what their students need and offer priceless insight to students to effectively help their horses. Also, the ideas and methods developed by horsemen and and -women over the centuries will be researched and brought to Eclectic Horseman readers.

Here’s an idea of the kinds of articles and features you can expect to see in every issue of Eclectic Horseman Magazine.